M. Munasir, Lydia Rohmawati, Nuhaa Faaizatunnisa, Yuda Prima Hardianto, Nurul Hidayat, Ahmad Taufiq
Silica, primarily as silicon dioxide (SiO2), is essential across various industries, including electronics, cosmetics, food packaging, and environmental remediation. This study introduces a novel and efficient method for synthesizing nanometer-scale SiO2 using natural silica sand, achieved at lower temperatures by adjusting the pH of the precursor solution. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis indicates that the synthesized silica attains a maximum silicon content of 95.84 %, confirming its successful formation. Silica derived from precursors with the lowest pH exhibits a blend of crystalline and amorphous phases. Advanced imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), validate the formation of silica nanoparticles, revealing both quartz and cristobalite phases in samples produced at the lowest pH. For comparative purposes, silica was also subjected to calcination, revealing that samples calcined at temperatures between 900°C and 1100°C resulted in larger particle sizes and decreased porosity compared to both uncalcined silica and that synthesized through our novel approach. Additionally, cost analysis indicates that the silica produced via this method is more economically viable than commercial alternatives. These findings demonstrate that the proposed synthesis method effectively yields silica with enhanced properties at reduced costs, underscoring significant potential for large-scale industrial applications and advancements in fields dependent on silica. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), Kampus Unesa, Jl. Ketintang, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Analytical Data, ITS, Surabaya, Jl. Arif Rahman Hakim, Sukolilo, Surabaya, Indonesia; Physics Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, KFUPM Box 5047, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang No. 5, Malang, Indonesia
